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In this Article

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) facts*
• What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
• What causes pelvic inflammatory disease?
• How common is pelvic inflammatory disease?
• Are some women more likely to get pelvic inflammatory disease?
• What are the signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease?
• How is pelvic inflammatory disease diagnosed?
• How is pelvic inflammatory disease treated?
• What if my partner is infected with pelvic inflammatory disease?
• Can pelvic inflammatory disease cause infertility?
• How can pelvic inflammatory disease be prevented?
• What should I do if I think I have an STI (sexually transmitted disease)?
• Patient Comments: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Treatments
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Index

PID can be cured with antibiotics (drugs that kill bacteria). Most of the time, at least 2 antibiotics are used that work against a wide range of bacteria. Your doctor will work with you to find the best treatment for you. You must take all your medicine, even if your symptoms go away. This helps to make sure your infection is fully cured. You should see your doctor again 2 to 3 days after starting treatment to make sure the antibiotics are working.

Without treatment, PID can lead to severe problems like infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain.

Any damage done to your pelvic organs before you start treatment likely cannot be undone. Still, don't put off getting treatment. If you do, you may not be able to have children. If you think you may have PID, see a doctor right away.

Your doctor may suggest going into the hospital to treat your PID if you:

• Are very sick
  
  
• Are pregnant
  
  
• Don't respond to or cannot swallow pills. If this is the case, you will need intravenous (in the vein or IV) antibiotics.
  
  
• Have an abscess (sore) in a tube or ovary

If you still have symptoms or if the abscess doesn't go away after treatment, you may need surgery. Problems caused by PID, such as constant pelvic pain and scarring, are often hard to treat. But, sometimes they get better after surgery.

Even if your sex partner doesn't have any symptoms, she or he could still be infected with bacteria that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Take steps to protect yourself from being infected again.

• Encourage your sex partner(s) to get treated, even if she or he doesn't have symptoms.
  
  
• Don't have sex with a partner who hasn't been treated.